Dear you,
I cannot find the perfect house in this zip code or in the zips
to the east and west. There are
structures called homes available, some are nicely designed, but ones I am
viewing are always in bad places. Bad places
are not within walking distance of anything, have no Verizon connectivity, are loaded
with vacay rentals and barking dogs, and tend to be populated by at least one
gal or guy who has a Confederate flag fetish. Right now, the available stuff is usually in a bad place. Case in point:
Their neighbor is an asshole. Nevertheless, the owner will get fifty calls a day because we, here and nationally, have a housing shortage. Period.
Shortage of the bad and the good. I have options. I just don’t like
them. But what about the people who have
no options? Where are they living? What chances do they have to find a place they
love? And, beyond aesthetic choices, how
many are without shelter of any kind?
The estimated number of homeless in America ranges from
600,000 to possibly 1.5 million.
The estimated number of homeless in Florida is around 29,000.
Shelter shortage. This is us. We are low on the supply side of survival basics, homes, shelters from the storm.
Another thing I am searching for is the vaccine, any version
of Covid kryptonite. But I can’t get an
appointment. I just checked the Walton
County Health Department website again and clicked on the “eventbrite” link
they use for registration. (Like I’m responding to a bridal shower invitation or
something.) This is what I got:
“Registrations are closed.
Thank you for your interest in a COVID-19 vaccine. At this time all appointments are full. Please continue to monitor . . .” etc., etc.,
etc.
Thank you for your interest????? I am inquiring about a
potentially life-saving vaccine, not a new refrigerator or smartphone upgrade. I know my county only has X number of doses,
so the Health Department is not at fault.
We have what we have and right now, we do not have enough. But keep in mind my section of Florida (and
pretty much all coastal areas) is about to be besieged by spring breakers,
carriers galore! We are in the kill zone. So “please continue to monitor” my increasing
rage.
The estimated number of Americans waiting for the vaccine is
certainly in the millions.
Vaccine shortage in the 21st century. This is us too.
Now, what do we have in excess? Where does supply exceed demand in the USA? From my perspective, we have a glut of the
following:
Brands and flavors of chips.
We can buy lime flavored Doritos! Why? Am
I supposed to drop one in my gin and tonic?
Dangerously dumb people holding elected office. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Enough said.
Real estate agents. We have hundreds in my county alone. But we only have, like, two optometrists and maybe
three good dentists who won’t jack up your teeth.
Bathing suit stores. Most
of these suits will disintegrate in the Gulf of Mexico anyway. (That is not really true. I am just trying to
get a rumor rolling about how the Gulf is full of flesh-eating poison to halt
the spring break invasion. Is it
working? Maybe I can ask Marjorie Taylor
Greene to post this on her Facebook page.
That would hit my target audience of “please don’t come here” people.
They believe whatever she says.)
Denim things. OK,
some people love their Levis. But do we
really need “denim-look” couches, cars and condoms?
Dollar General Crap. Spend
an hour or two walking around one of these 1$ type stores. Yes, the merch is cheap. It is also, for the most part, unnecessary. Please explain to me how those “Ten
Commandment” potholders and stained tube socks improve the quality of my life.
Finally, T-shirts that say things. I can see you’re a “Professional Couch Potato”. No need to reiterate that fact. As for
suggestions that I “Work Hard, Play Hard, and PRAY hard”, just shut the hell
up. Your t-shirt is not my life coach. (I think I’ve ranted about this before.)
All the things we need but do not have enough of. All the things we have but do not need.
This is us.
Change the balance.
Love,
Joyce
